It’s also once again solid on sound, with Ray Ferraro and James Cybulski calling the action, and Carrlyn Bathe chipping in between whistles. This extends to the visual presentation, as NHL 22 now features stat packages presented as augmented reality graphics before some faceoffs. The lighting in the arenas is much better, as is the detail in player uniforms and facial expressions. This is mostly true, as NHL 22 can look far superior to past games on the PS4 or Xbox One. In the lead up to the release of NHL 22 EA Vancouver wasn’t shy about how a move to the Frostbite engine, as well as to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, would allow for better visuals.

This year, however, I’m underwhelmed by the additions to NHL 22, and the lack of polish for both new and old features alike. Each year I’m eager to find out what EA Vancouver has added to the game, and how they’ve pushed video game hockey forward. It’s the game that my buddy and I will play for hours as we manage our franchise through in-game menus, a ridiculous spreadsheet, and even a whiteboard.

That’s the game my friends will buy so the six of us can play against the CPU a few nights a week. That’s a game I’m going to play for the next year. Every year when the new NHL game drops from EA Vancouver, I get excited.

Nhl rebuilt